TMC Exclusive Fragonset 31

[AY Mod]

Class 31/4 Refurbished 31452 ‘Minotaur’ Fragonset

 

 

https://www.themodelcentre.com/35-825y

 

The Brush Type Twos – Class 30s and Class 31s – are the next Diesel Locomotives to get the Bachmann Branchline treatment, with models of these long-lived prototypes joining the Branchline OO scale range for the first time. Following in the footsteps of their N scale counterparts from Graham Farish, these new OO scale models have all the hallmarks of the Branchline Class 37 & 47 locomotives and more. 

Depicting a Refurbished Class 31/4 with ETH, this locomotive has had its Mirrlees engine replaced with an English Electric 12SVT and the Branchline model faithfully recreates this, with the correct roof exhaust ports and 12SVT engine block detail visible through the bodyside windows.

With high fidelity mouldings, numerous separately fitted parts and countless tooling variations to capture the minutiae of the real locomotives throughout their lives, our new Class 31 is brought to life with an exquisite livery application using true-to-prototype colours, fonts and logos. Along with an unprecedented array of lighting features, our Dual Fitted speaker system is fitted to all models – bringing to life our SOUND FITTED models. For the ultimate experience, choose one of our SOUND FITTED DELUXE models with their motorised radiator fan, authentic tinted windscreen glazing and, for the first time ever, DCC-uncoupling – thanks to the Bachmann Auto-release Coupling System!

 

 

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale

• Era 9

• Pristine Fragonset livery

• Running No. 31452

• Named ‘Minotaur’

• Equipped with a Plux22 DCC Decoder Socket – recommended Decoder item No. 36-570B

• Length 228mm

 

DETAIL VARIATIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL

• Refurbished Body

• Gangway Doors Plated

• Plated Headcode Panels fitted with Marker Lights

• Windscreen Washer Jets with Covers

• Bufferbeam Cowling Removed

• Original Windscreen

• Original Main Fan Grilles with Horizontal Fins

• English Electric Engine Exhaust Ports

• English Electric Engine Block Detail

• Plated Boiler Port

• Plated Water Filler Hatch

• Plated Bodyside Steps

• Battery Boxes with Additional Safety Clips

• NRN Radio Pods

• Electric Train Heating (ETH) Fitted

• High Intensity Headlights

 

BACHMANN BRANCHLINE CLASS 30/31 SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Five pole, twin shaft motor with two flywheels providing drive to both bogies

• All axle drive

• Electrical pickup from all outer wheels on each bogie

• Separate metal bearings fitted to each axle

• Diecast metal chassis block and bogie towers

• Diecast metal gearboxes, with gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities

• 16.5mm (OO gauge) wheels to NEM310 & NEM311 standards with authentic profile and detailing

• Detachable coupling pockets to NEM362 standards fitted to each bogie

• Auto-Release Couplings fitted at both ends – DCC operated, hands-free uncoupling with the press of a function button (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)

• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (438mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• Bogies constructed from multiple components featuring full relief detail

• Rotating radiator fan, driven by an independent motor and gearbox, operated as part of the sound project on DCC and Analogue control (SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)

• Tinted windscreen glazing (Driver and Second Man windscreens only as per the prototype, SOUND FITTED DELUXE models only)

• Separately applied metal detail parts, including grab handles, windscreen wipers and etched fan grilles

• Sprung metal buffers

• Each model supplied with a full set of decorated, model-specific bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts including three-piece, body-mounted snow ploughs

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, including illuminated headcode panels and high intensity headlights where applicable, switchable on/off at either end on DCC or Analogue control

• Cab lighting*, assigned to two DCC functions for separate switching of each

• Separately switched Engine Room lighting*

• Single or win red tail lights (*when used on DCC)

• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• Plux22 DCC decoder interface 

SOUND:

• Two quality speakers employed for optimum sound reproduction, fitted to every model as standard

• Zimo MS450P22 DCC Sound Decoder fitted to SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE versions

• Two sound projects to accurately capture the sounds of Class 30 (Mirrlees Engine) and Class 31 (English Electric Engine)

• Sound files for each project produced specifically for the Bachmann Branchline Class 30/31 using recordings from real locomotives and archive audio

• SOUND FITTED and SOUND FITTED DELUXE models operate on DCC and Analogue control as supplied. On Analogue, an authentic engine start up sequence and running sounds are produced when power is applied

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models

• Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR and corporate specification colours

• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing using authentic typefaces, logos and colours

• In addition, where applicable Etched Nameplates and Plaques are also provided

[The Black Hat]

Nice idea and a good livery to choose, but then fallen into the same trap as Hornby when picking which 'Fragon-wagon' to do. 31452 is the only one with the headlight mounted on the left side, the rest of the fleet had it at the middle above the bufferbeam area. This just makes it harder to renumber a 31 as they often ran in pairs, although doing this for two Fragonset 31s at the prices that these will fetch will show more than some loyalty to those liking the black livery with the red stripe. 

[ted633]

Pre ordered one. No idea why I like it, but I do! Will get hold of a Lima one (and remove its motor) to be the ‘tail’